Rod for a clothes hanger and hanger

ABSTRACT

The rod for a clothes hanger is characterized in being formed from an elongated body consisting of two different mutually co-extruded materials. The first material forms a core that has the function of ensuring the structural rigidity of the rod and the second material forms a cover, arranged externally, that has the function of forming an anti-slip friction contact with the hung item of clothing.

[0001] This invention relates to a rod for a clothes hanger. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a clothes hanger having a rod.

[0002] As is well known, clothes hangers are usually produced with anarch-shaped rigid structure that is intended to support shouldered itemsand an underlying rod for intended to support folded items of clothing.Generally, the rod is referred to as a trouser rod.

[0003] One drawback connected with the use of conventional trouser rodsis that they do not offer sufficient friction to prevent the slippingand consequent falling of the hung item.

[0004] In order to overcome such a drawback, in some cases, the surfaceof the trouser bar has been covered with an anti-slip chemical productand a fabric material so as to increase the friction between the rod andthe hung item. Other techniques have also been suggested, such as inU.S. Pat. No. 4,026,446, which describes an iron clothes hanger thehorizontal part of which is equipped with an enclosing closed coversuitable for locking the hung item of clothing; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,307,in which the surface which produces the friction is realized throughsprayed velvet particles, or else through strands wound into aninterknit braid applied on an adhesive coating which covers the rod; andU.S. Pat. No. 6,126,049 which describes covering the rod with a spongyplastic structure, such as polyurethane foam.

[0005] The systems known up to now have, however, proved unsatisfactorydue to the high realization cost or because they are ineffectivefollowing vibrations which are created during the transport of the hungitems of clothing from place to place.

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide atrouser rod which not only has an effective non-slip surface but also issimple to manufacture.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a trouser rodhaving a non-slip surface is more cost-effective and stronger, with thesame section, than similar products.

[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a trouser rodthat can be assembled into a complete hanger in a simple fast manner.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to be able to readilyassemble a series of trouser rods and hanger bodies into completehangers.

[0010] Briefly, the invention provides a rod for a clothes hanger thatis comprised of an elongated core of a structurally rigid material and acover externally on and along the core, the cover being of an anti-slipmaterial for friction contact with an item of clothing hung thereon. Inaccordance with the invention the core and the cover are co-extruded toform a unitary elongated body.

[0011] The core, arranged internally, has the function of ensuring thestructural rigidity of the rod and the cover, arranged externally, hasthe function of forming an anti-slip friction contact with the hung itemof clothing.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the elongated body is substantiallycylindrical and the cover extends coaxially for a more or less on asubstantial length of the core.

[0013] Still in a preferred embodiment, the core includes a plurality oflongitudinal ribs, such as radial fins, that may also be enclosed in areinforcement rim.

[0014] Still in a preferred embodiment, the core is made of athermolastic material and, specifically, of polystyrene and the cover ismade of a plastic material, such as, thermoplastic rubber.

[0015] The trouser rod can be incorporated into an arch-shaped rigidstructure for supporting clothing by suitable means that allow for quickassembly. For example, the means may be in the form of pins or busheswhich are slotted at the ends of the rod and mounted on protruding hooksof the arch shaped structure.

[0016] These and other objects of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the acompanying drawings wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a rod according to theinvention mounted on a rigid arch-shaped structure to form a hanger;

[0018]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having a coreformed of four radially disposed ribs in accordance with the invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having a coreformed of three radially disposed ribs in accordance with the invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having a coverformed with external protrusions to increase the friction between a hungitem and the rod in accordance with the invention;

[0021]FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod similar to FIG.2 with a reinforcement rim encompassing the core in accordance with theinvention;

[0022]FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod similar to FIG.3 with a reinforcement rim encompassing the core in accordance with theinvention;

[0023]FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having a coreformed of a single rib, a reinforcement rim and a cover in accordancewith the invention;

[0024]FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having aU-shaped cross-sectional shape in accordance with the invention;

[0025]FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having aV-shaped cross-sectional shape in accordance with the invention;

[0026]FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rod having arounded rectangular shaped cross-section in accordance with theinvention;

[0027]FIG. 11 illustrates a view of a hanger with a rod according to theinvention;

[0028]FIG. 12 illustrates a view of a modified hanger with a rodaccording to the invention;

[0029]FIG. 13 illustrates a view of a further modified hanger with a rodaccording to the invention;

[0030]FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded view of the hanger of FIG. 13; and

[0031]FIG. 15 illustrates the hanger of FIG. 13 at one step in theassembly of the hanger.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, the trouser rod 1 is secured to anarch-shaped rigid structure equipped with a central hook 3 to form ahanger 2.

[0033] The rod 1 is a substantially cylindrical elongated body madethrough the co-extrusion of a first material that forms a core 4 and asecond material that forms a cover 5, as shown in FIG. 2. The materialof the core 4 is chosen to ensure the structural rigidity of the rod 1whereas the material of the cover 5 is chosen to provide the rod 1 withthe appropriate anti-slip properties so that a hung item of clothingfolded over the rod itself generates an anti-motion friction effect.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the core 4 has a circular sectionconfigured from an appropriate number of cross ribs or radial fins. Forexample, the core 4 may be formed of four longitudinal radially disposedribs, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, or three such ribs, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, or a single rib, as shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments,as shown in FIG. 4, the cover 5 may have protrusions 8 to increase thefrictional characteristics of the cover.

[0035] Further, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a reinforcement rim 7 ofthe same material as the core 4 may encompass the ribs of the core 4within the cover 5. This rim 7, besides increasing the rigidity of thecore 4, also constitutes a support surface in addition to the cover 5.

[0036] The core 4 and cover 5 can have co-extruded configurations whichare not limited to a circular configuration but can consist of othershapes, including open shapes, suitable for the purpose such as, forexample, triangular, square, hexagonal and the like. For example, therod may be made with a U-shaped cross-section wherein each of the core 4and cover 5 are U-shaped as shown in FIG. 8.

[0037] Also, the rod may of be V-shaped cross-section wherein each ofthe core 4 is V-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9, with a single longitudinalrib employed in the core 4 and the cover 5 covers only one peripheralside of the core 4.

[0038] Also, the rod may of be of rounded rectangular shape incross-section wherein the core 4 is closed and includes fourlongitudinal crossing ribs and the cover 5 is of U-shape to partiallycover the periphery of the core 4, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0039] The outer peripheral surface of the cover 5 can be shaped as anysuitable polygonal shape.

[0040] Constructively, the material of the core 4 is a suitablethermoplastic or styrene material and the material of the cover 5 is aplastic material. In greater detail, the material of the core 4preferably consists of polystyrene, whereas the material of the cover 5preferably consists of a thermoplastic rubber, a generic term whichincludes different types of rubbers, such as resins, each of which issuitable for the purpose.

[0041] Other materials suitable for the purpose can be chosen to realizethe materials for the core and cover, in relation to the specificapplications, as is possible for a man skilled in the art.

[0042] Although the preferred version of the invention consists of atrouser rod 1 which comprises a cylindrical elongated body with across-shaped section, it must be understood that in the context of thepresent invention expressions such as “cylindrical”, “cross” and“circular” and all other relative equivalents and/or variants thereof,must not be taken in the restrictive sense to limit the filed ofapplication of the invention, since other customized versions of the rodcould be used according to the invention, as is clear to a man skilledin the art.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 11, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts as above, the hanger 2 includes a rigid arch-shaped structurehaving shoulders 10 which extend outwards in opposite directions from acentral hook 3 and a cross rod 1. In addition, the hanger 2 has hookingmeans for securing the rod 1 to the opposite ends of the arch-shapedstructure. This hooking means consists of a filiform element 11 equippedwith curved portions 12 and 13 to be used for hooking the rod 1 andhaving ends anchored to the shoulders 10. The first curved portion 12 iswound around the first end 14 of the rod 1 and the second curved portion13 is removably hooked onto the second end 15 of the rod 1.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 12, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts as above, the hooking means may comprise a pair of pins 16fixed, on one side, to the shoulders 10 and, on the other side, to thetwo ends 14 and 15 of the rod 1.

[0045] To increase the friction cooperation between the rod 1 and a hungitem of clothing, an elastic strip 17 (see FIG. 12) is used, or else thecentral part 18 of the filiform element 11 (see FIG. 11) is exploited asa pant trap. Such accessories are per se known in the state of the art.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 13, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts as above, the hooking means for securing the rod 1 to thehanger 2 includes bushes 19 and hooks 20. The bushes 19 are of the sameshape as the rod 1 and are firstly slotted onto the ends of the rod 1forming a single piece, as indicated in FIGS. 14 and 15. The bushes 19are then attached to the hooks 20 which protrude from the shoulders 10to complete the hanger, as indicated in FIGS. 15 and 13.

[0047] The elements of the hooking means, such as the filiform element11, pins 16, bushes 19 and elastic strip 17, are removable with respectto the body of the hanger 2, and can function as accessories to be usedin connection or not with the hanger.

[0048] Other types of hooking means may also be used.

[0049] The invention thus provides an anti-slip rod 1 in a singlefinished piece. For this reason, an assembly operation with otheranti-slip elements or specific procedures for creating the frictioneffect are not required, as they are in previously known procedures.

[0050] Another advantage of the invention derives from the use ofco-extrusion, which is a simpler and more cost-effective procedure withrespect to the co-injection procedure, used up to now.

[0051] Another advantage of the invention, is the elimination of theso-called sleeve, which, slotted and possibly stuck to the rod, with thepassing of time always tends to move and, therefore, causes the fallingof a hung item of clothing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rod for a clothes hanger comprising anelongated core of a structurally rigid material; and a cover externallyon and along said core, said cover being of an anti-slip material forfriction contact with an item of clothing hung thereon and wherein saidcore and said cover are co-extruded to form a unitary elongated body. 2.A rod as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated body has asubstantially cylindrical cross-section and said cover extends along atleast a substantial length of said core.
 3. A rod as set forth in claim1 wherein said core includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs.
 4. A rodas set forth in claim 3 wherein said ribs are radially disposed.
 5. Arod as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a reinforcement rimencompassing said radially disposed ribs within said cover.
 6. A rod asset forth in claim 4 wherein said core is made of a thermoplasticmaterial.
 7. A rod as set forth in claim 6 wherein said thermoplasticmaterial is a styrene material.
 8. A rod as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid core is made of polyester.
 9. A rod as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid cover is a plastic material.
 10. A rod as set forth in claim 9wherein said cover is made of thermoplastic rubber.
 11. A rod as setforth in claim 1 wherein said elongated body has a cylindrical shape,said core includes a plurality of raially directed longitudinal ribs andis made of polyester and said cover is made of thermoplastic rubber. 12.A clothes hanger comprising an arch-shaped rigid structure forsupporting shouldered clothing and having a centrally disposed hook; andan underlying trouser rod for supporting folded items of clothing, saidrod being connected to opposite ends of said arch-shaped structure, saidrod including an elongated core of a structurally rigid material and acover externally on and along said core, said cover being of ananti-slip material for friction contact with an item of clothing hungthereon and wherein said core and said cover are co-extruded to form aunitary elongated body.
 13. A hanger as set forth in claim 12 furthercomprising means for securing said rod to said opposite ends of saidarch-shaped structure.
 14. A hanger as set forth in claim 12 whereinsaid means includes a filiform element having a first curved portionwound around a first end of said rod and a second curved portionremovably attached onto a second end of said rod.
 15. A hanger as setforth in claim 12 wherein said means comprises a pair of pins fixed onone side to said arch-shaped structure and on an opposite side to twoends of said rod.
 16. A hanger as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidmeans comprises of a pair of bushes, each said bush being slidablymounted in a respective end of said rod, and a pair of hooks, each saidhook protruding from a respective end of said arch-shaped structure andbeing secured to a respective bushing.